Lions earn 1st Division I win

WILKES-BARRE TWP. - It is a brief snapshot in time that will forever be etched in the lore of Penn State hockey. The cross-ice pass from Kenny Brooks to David Glen. The snap shot from Glen. The red light flashing. The eruption of the crowd.

It took only two attempts, but Penn State won its first game as a Division I program Saturday night with a 4-3 overtime victory against American International College at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

Glen's goal came 38 seconds into the extra frame after Penn State let a 3-1 third-period lead slip away.

"It's a really special moment for the program," Glen said. "And I'm just thankful for every opportunity and happy to be a part of it."

Penn State began its hockey era Friday night in State College against AIC, and the Yellow Jackets prevailed in overtime, 3-2.

"We didn't know how many years away we were from competing at this level," head coach Guy Gadowsky said. "I thought it was a great weekend. I couldn't be happier right now."

Added goalie PJ Musico: "We definitely knew that we had the talent in the room. It was just really setting the foundation of how we were going to be playing in the future. And I feel like we're on the road to doing that."

The Nittany Lions (1-1) struck first on an unassisted goal from Glen with 3:49 left in the first period. Glen won a faceoff in the AIC zone, maneuvered around a Yellow Jacket defenseman and wristed a shot over the glove of goalie Ben Meisner.

It marked the first lead in Penn State hockey history, which moved to Division I after decades competing as a club program.

The Yellow Jackets evened things at 5:44 of the second period. Chris Porter, stationed in front of the net, played a deflection off the boards and jammed the puck past goalie Musico.

The Nittany Lions retook the lead on freshman Mark Yanis' goal through the five-hole of Meisner. AIU (1-1) had a 5-on-3 advantage to end in the second period, and for five seconds to begin the third, but could not convert. Penn State got back to even strength 22 seconds into the third when Connor Varley exited the penalty box.

"Luckily, we were able to kill that penalty, and I feel like that was a huge momentum turn," Musico said. "That really set the pace for the rest of the game."

Penn State rode a stroke of good fortune early in the third period to take a 3-1 lead. The Yellow Jackets were attempting to kill off a penalty, when a clearing attempt struck the back of one of their own players. The puck fell to the waiting stick of Max Gardiner, who found Jonathan Milley for the one-timer.

The Yellow Jackets cut their deficit to 3-2 on Nathan Sliwinski's goal with 12:06 remaining. Adam Pleskach's breakaway goal knotted things at 3 with 4:38 to go in regulation.

And for the second straight night, Penn State and AIC needed extra time to settle matters.

"You want your first points to be a win in D-I, so I'm thrilled," Gadowsky said. "If I had a choice of winning a game 3-1 or winning a game in overtime, I'd choose it this way."

ekorn@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2054

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